THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Il Pittore Restaurant Review

: It's no coincidence that Il Pittore in Italian means “the painter.” And it's more than just about the fact that “Painter” is the chef's last name. Chef/owner Chris Painter is indeed artistic, and also skilled at conjuring the flavors of the Italian table, from Sicily to Piedmont, Emilia Romagna to Tuscany. Although this is a partnership with Starr Restaurants, for whom Painter has worked for close to a decade, there is nothing scene-y about this restaurant, with its quiet acoustics, warm burnished woods and glowing yellow lights. Downstairs, cozy up at a ten-seat counter or at a communal table for eight, or head upstairs to the main dining room where skylights, large bay windows and comfortable banquettes set the stage for a memorable meal. Choose one of the handcrafted cocktails (we like Contratto Cup with Hendrick’s Gin and ginger ale) or a bottle of wine from the Italian-centric boutique list. Artisanal salumi, bruschetta with baccala and quail eggs, and baked ricotta smeared on grilled focaccia are all good ideas. House-made pastas include the corzetti with braised goat spiked with mint and chili oil. Chef Painter is adept at making flavors meld in new and exciting ways, as he does with the tender braise of suckling pig with pear mostarda. But his dishes are never overly fussy, as the pan-seared red snapper over eggplant ragoût can attest. For dessert, target the Meyer lemon tart with white chocolate arugula sauce and hazelnut gelato.